John F. Kennedy Boulevard (Tampa, Florida) facts for kids
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|---|---|
| Length | 5.3 mi (8.5 km) |
| West end | Memorial Highway in Tampa |
| East end | Channelside Drive in Tampa |
John F. Kennedy Boulevard, often called Kennedy Boulevard, is a major road that runs from east to west in Tampa, Florida. This important street was once known by different names. In the downtown area, it was called Lafayette Street. West of downtown, it was known as Grand Central Avenue. Even further west, outside the city, it was called Memorial Highway.
Today, Kennedy Boulevard is about 5.3 miles long. It is part of State Road 60 for its entire length. Many interesting places are located along this road. You can reach shopping centers like WestShore Plaza and International Plaza and Bay Street. It also leads to Tampa International Airport and the University of Tampa. The road connects to Downtown Tampa and the Port of Tampa. Kennedy Boulevard also marks the northern edge of South Tampa.
History of Kennedy Boulevard
Before big highways like the Interstate system were built in Tampa, Grand Central Avenue was a very busy road. It was the main way for cars to travel west from downtown Tampa, especially during rush hour.
When Interstate 4 opened in the mid-1960s, it offered a faster way to travel. This caused traffic on Grand Central Avenue to drop by more than half. Many businesses along the road that relied on lots of cars passing by had to close or move. However, as Tampa's population grew, Kennedy Boulevard became important again. Today, it is a key part of the city's travel network.
Renaming the Boulevard
The road was renamed in 1964 to honor President John F. Kennedy. This happened after his visit to Tampa on November 18, 1963. Just a few days later, he was sadly assassinated in Dallas on November 22. The Tampa City Council voted unanimously to rename the street.
President Kennedy's motorcade, which is a parade of cars, used about five miles of Grand Central Avenue during his Tampa visit. Because he traveled along this road, it was chosen for the renaming. Records from the Kennedy Library show that his public appearance in Tampa was one of his longest during his presidency. Only his visit to Berlin, Germany, earlier that year was longer.
Changes Over Time
Since it was renamed, Kennedy Boulevard has changed a lot. It has been expanded to have 4 to 6 lanes, making it wider and able to handle more traffic. Today, Kennedy Boulevard is a vital connection to and from Downtown Tampa. It also serves as an alternative route to I-275 when that highway is busy.
The WTVT - Fox 13 television studio is located on Kennedy Boulevard. On that cool November day in 1963, a live camera at the station captured Kennedy's motorcade as it drove east. At that time, showing live events from different places on local TV was rare. So, this was the only part of his visit that many people in the Tampa Bay area could see on television.
Around the same time the road was renamed, a group of Tampa community leaders decided to commission a life-sized statue of President Kennedy. A famous Italian artist created the statue. It was shipped to the United States in mid-1964. The statue was placed at Plant Park on the University of Tampa campus, where it faces Kennedy Boulevard.
See also
In Spanish: John F. Kennedy Boulevard para niños
